Abra-Kid-Abra teaches and performs magic and related entertainment, including juggling, animal balloon art, and clowning. The company offers magic camps, afterschool classes, and single workshops; it also can send entertainers to any party locale surrounding the metro area.

Abra-Kid-Abra can entertain with strolling performers, close-up magic, amd short sidewalk shows. For birthdays, entertainers present a 30-minute magic show that incorporates comedy into a story specifically about the birthday child. Photo opportunities are part of the show, and each child takes home a magic kit.

Abra-Kid-Abra hosts camps, classes, and workshops to teach kids the ins and out of performing magic and related entertainment like juggling, face painting, creating animal balloons, and clowning. Summer camp themes include Kids Comedy, Circus Skills, Puppet Theater, Magic, and Let Us Entertain You.

The staff even gets to clown around a bit: They are happy to perform shows for kid or adult parties, street fairs, or school students.

Barbara Carter specializes in traveling party entertainment that includes clown antics, balloon art, face-painting, or character visits from "Bebe the Clown," "Princess Periwinkle," Mrs. Santa Claus, or Mother Goose. She also offers face-painting classes for group of four or more. Birthday party packages can include a clown magic show and face painting (full faces or cheek art).

Carter can travel throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area for appearances. Those interested should check her website for an email contact form.

Bob Kramer's Marionnettes has been entertaining St. Louis-area children with inventive puppetry for nearly five decades, making the company one of the longest running on-site puppetry theater in the US. The stories that the marionettes present are typically based on well-known folk and fairy tales.

Not only do audience members get treated to a lively puppet show, but they also get a special demonstration before each show that shows the process of puppet building.

The company can host private parties at its theater. A 30-minute show with two puppeteers costs $150 and the studio can be rented for after-show gatherings for an additional $50. It is also happy to bring special productions to locations around the city. These shows are designed for approximately 20-30 people and cost between $200-$350.00.

A St. Louis native, Boo the Clown has been "clowning around" for more than a decade and is a member of the Shriner's clowns, the International Shrine Clown Association, International Brotherhood of Magicians,
St. Louis Clowns of America, and Clowns of America International.

Boo brings party entertainment to your locale; each show includes a comedy magic show and a balloon animal or hat for each party guest. Boo can also do face-painting, temporary tattoos, and button making for additional cost.

Circus Kaput comprises a husband-and-wife team; Ginger Routh is a face-painting specialist, and Joshua Routh is a nationally recognized circus performer. Circus Kaput can travel for shows within a 30-miles radius of St. Louis.

Ginger can paint cheek designs or full-face designs, and she comes to each event with a board of designs from which party-goers can choose. She averages about 12-20 faces per hour.

Josh is the star of Jadoo - A One Man Comedic Circus and received formal training at the Circus Center's Clown Conservatory in San Francisco. His shows combine elements of juggling, magic, teeterboard, partner acrobatics, and tumbling.

Aside from offering traveling party entertainment, Josh hosts special one- to three-hour workshops for kids and adults, including one called "Clowning by the Seat of Your Pants," which incorporates physical comedy and clowning, and "Hokus Pocus," which incorporates magic trick training.

Enchanted Parties by Tracy specializes in two kinds of personalized dress-up parties in your home. Parties can include up to 14 children. Tracy can travel to any town on the Missouri side of the St. Louis Metro area.

The Once Upon a Time Princess Party includes invitations, set up, pricess storytime, craft project, a "beauty session" and dress-up time, a tea party. The deluxe Happily Ever After party includes all of the above plus themed games and music, additional treats for the tea party, and a Poloroid photo for each child. Special additional-cost "ad-ons" can be chosen with either package.

Higher Hope Entertainment is a party service company that offers balloon decor, singing telegrams, and balloon artist "Double 0 Balloon," who creates fun scultures for all party guests. Double O Balloon can also perform at restaurants, church and corporate events, and libraries throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Impish Grin surpasses typical face painting with its impressive artistry, including full-face designs that mimic animal faces or incorporate fantasy themes. Face painters can attend a wide array of parties and special events throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including birthdays, Bat/Bar-Mitzvahs, and school carnivals.

The company uses only safe, water-based theatrical cosmetics, which easily come off with mild soap and warm water. Each face design takes five minutes to complete on average.

It Must Be Magic & Balloons provides full magic shows, "strolling magic" for events like street fairs or carnivals, and balloon artists.

A professional storyteller since 1992, Karen Young has gained quite a following with her lively and lyrical style of wowing young crowds with all kinds of tales. She can travel to libraries, private parties, churches, and schools.

Her programs run about 45 minutes and cover themes such as Tales of Courageous Kids, Peek into the Past, Tales of Clever Kids, Tales of Magic and Manhood, Tales of Magic and Maidenhood, Kids on Stage, and I Love to Read.

KidzArt St. Louis is a drawing-based art education program designed for kids of all ages. Classes take place in schools, community centers, in homeschool settings, or during special events; in other words, KidzArt comes to you.

Kids use simple, drawing methods and are exposed to a variety of artistic mediums. Instruction takes place weekly, and class sizes are limited to 15 students max. Children are grouped with classmates their own age. The company even offers Mommy & Me classes for children as young as two.

KidzArt can also help host birthday parties. The birthday child can choose a theme and a project, and the company does the rest. A basic package starts at $150 for 10 children.

Mad Science is the winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Day Camp for Big Kids in St. Louis!

The bubbling, gurgling, and smoking live science programs and workshops of Mad Science enthrall youngsters. Rocketry, magnets, polymers - even the science of toys - are subjects covered by this educational company.

Kids can attend hands-on, one-hour sessions after school or participate in class workshops that can be arranged for local schools. All events are taught by trained, qualified, and dynamic instructors.

Mad Science birthday parties last about one hour. Optional add-ons, like cotton-candy making, bubbling potions, and rocket launches are also available for extra cost. Parties can be held at any location, can accommodate any number of children, and are designed for kids ages five to 12. Party prices range from $150-$230.

Mad Science summer camps are aimed at kids ages four to 12 and feature hands-on activities, extended science investigation, group interaction, and amazing demonstrations (which focus on the "theme" of the day). Prices range from $140?240 for a one-week camp.

Magical Fun provides is a full service production company that offers complete party and special events entertainment packages, including magicians, jugglers, mimes, character artists, clowns, face painters, stilt walkers, balloon sculptors, artists that help a group with interactive murals, and many more.

Noah's Ark Animal Workshop is a company that offers two traveling workshops that can visit birthday parties, daycare centers, day camps, school functions, or community events: the Noah's Ark Stuff-N-Fluff Animal Workshop and the Bella Bee Glamour Girls Workshop. The workshops can be customized to fit any kind of budget.

The Animal Workshop offers 40 different animals/characters that can be brought to life at a magical hands-on workshop. Each child hand-stuffs a cuddly friend, names it, and chooses outfits, sound chips, collars, and other optional accessories.

The Bella Bee Ultimate Glamour Girls Workshop includes glitter glam products, fashion accessories, glam bags, and character building.

The full range of party services offered by Once Upon A Bash, which can be booked for any location, is a relief to overworked parents. The company makes and sends invitations, decorates the party area, hosts a two-hour party, and provides real dinnerware, utensils, crafts, games, music, cupcakes, and favors for up to ten guests. Additional guests may be added to the party for an additional fee.

Parties for boys, girls, or both sexes combined can be booked. Popular themes include Pop Star, Fashionista, Hannah Montana, Pirate, Rock Star, Circus, and Tea Party.

In addition to all-inclusive parties, Once Upon A Bash offers an "a la carte menu" of party entertainment, including circus acts, face painting, caricature art, princess visits, and more.

Lively, two-hour ready-made parties in an array of themes is the specialty of Oogles 'n Googles, which serves the entire St. Louis area. Party packages include set-up, a themed storyline, invitations, themed cake, goody bags, souvenir photo, and a special gift for the birthday child.

Tea Time, I Spy Detective School, Swashbuckling Pirates, and Dinosaur Expedition are just a few of the themes the company offers. Parties are geared toward children ages three to 10.

Tréci Collender - better known to kids as Princess the Clown - has larned her face-painting and balloon artistry by one of the top professionals in the face-painting and clowning industry, Marcela "Mama Clown" Murad. Collender regularly attends seminars and conventions to keep her talent fresh and unique.

Princess the Clown also offers temporary Natural Henna and airbrush tattoos (including glitter tattoos) to her party audience, and features a wide variety of themes and costumes from which parents and party planners can choose. Special services include professional event photography and/or videos, goody bags, and a "dress-up trunk."

She offers her services throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and can attend a wide array of special events, including birthday parties, corporate family events, holiday parties, grand openings, and auto shows.